Fulcrum and method of making same



L.'L. WHITNEY FULCRUM AND METHOD` oF' MAKING SAME' Filed June 5, 1922 .Zaren Z. Wah@ Patented Dec. 30, 1924. 1

PATENT OFFICE.

UNETED STATES LOREN L. WHITNEY, OF HAMMOND, NDANI-, ASSEGNOR TO AMER-TCAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATON OF NEW' JERSEY.

FULCRUM ANB lfE-T-IGD GF MAKING' SAME.

Application led June 5,

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, Lonnn L. VHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsl in a Fulcrum and Method of Making Same, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a brake beam fulcrum and a method of making same.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable and eflicient forged fulcrum requiring a minimum amount of metal and has its parts arranged and cooperating in a manner to meet the various requirements for successful use under service conditions.

Another object is to provide a simple and improved method of making such fulcrums.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of a blank from which the fulcrum is made;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same blank with the ends thereof sheared at an angle to the proper width so that the fulcrum will fit between the flanges of the associated compression member of a brake beam;

Figure 3 is a top plan view, and Figure et is an end-View of the blank after it is bent intermediate its ends and its extremities bent outwardly to form feet which may be secured to the compression member of a brake beam;

Figures 5 and 6 are top plan and end elevational views respectively, of the same fulcrum member after the main body part has been twisted at an angle with respect to the feet;

Figures 7 and 8 are top plan and end views respectively, of the fulcrum after the bent portion is cut and the cut portions bent upwardly to form tension rod guides; and

Figures 9' and 10 are top plan and end views respectively, of the completed fulcrum.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and will be par'- ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the igures of the drawings, it will be noted that a metal blank 15, such as a bar of steel, is provided. The ends of the 1922. Serial N0. 565,958.

blank are sheared to the proper width to form foot portions 16 to be received between the flanges of a brake beam compression member. Preferably, the blank is then heated and bent intermediate its ends to form a loop 17 with legs 18 between which a brake lever may be received. During this operation the feet16 are bent outwardly at right angles vto the legs 18 to provide attaching means to the compression member of a brake beam. The legs 18 are then turned or twisted at an angle with respect to the feet 16 to permit the use of a brake lever arranged at an angle from the vertical, which angle is usually about forty (410) degrees. The metal at 17 at the end of the loop is then sheared in lines intersecting the planes of the legs 18 or along parallel lines 19 which also run parallel to the length of the feet 16 and the sheared portions bent or struck up to. form guides 2O for a brake beam tension member. The tension rod end of the fulcrum is then drawn to the proper contour to fit the radius of the tension rod at that point, the curvature being shown along the line 21 in Figure 9. The guides 20 are also shaped in this operation, the tops of said guides appearing diagonal in shape in Figure 10 and the tension rod seat or saddle extending in the same direction as the feet 16 in Figure 10.

By means of this method it is unnecessary to upset any of the metal, and the parts of the fulcrum may be quickly shaped in a simple and eiicient manner, resulting in a brake beam fulcrum adapted to meet the `various requirements under service conditions.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making a forged fulcrum consisting tiret in providing a blank then bending same intermediate its ends to form legs between which a brake lever may be received, and then cutting the blank at its bend and striking up the out portions to form tension rod guides.

2. A method of making a forged fulcrum consisting iirstin providing a blank, then bending same intermediate its ends, and then striking up portions of the blank along cut lines at its bend to form tension rod guides.

3. A method of making a forged fulcrum consisting first in providing a blank,v then bending same intermediate its ends to form legs between which a brake beam V.lever mayV be received, then twisting onepart of the blanlr with respect to the other, then shear`- ing the metal at the bent end in lines interseating said legs, then striking up the planes n of said eut'portions to form tension jrod guides, and then drawing the bent end of the fulcrnm to forma curvedv seat for the tension rod. Y. Y

5. A forged nlornm comprising a loop and tol form tension rod guides.

member being out and turned np' atjthe loop to form tension member guides. v

v*Signed at Hammond,'Indiana, this 1st day of June; 1922.'iv ye LoREN'L. WHITNEY;

member being cnt .at-the loop along lines in- I .tersecting theplanes of the legs ofthe loop V725 Y Y Y 6, A forged fulorurn comprising aiiloop Y 

